12-7-20 Chattanooga Police Department increases impaired driving enforcement during holiday season

CPD will be deploying increased and deliberate enforcement to remove impaired drivers from our roadways. This will be accomplished through regular patrols and THSO grant funded overtime, intentionally placing dozens of officers on the roadways looking for impaired drivers.

“Decision making while impaired is often hasty and ill-conceived,” said CPD Sergeant Michael Ortel. “Please make plans for safe, sober travel before you even have one drink.”

Increased state and national messaging about the dangers of drunk driving, coupled with increased sobriety checkpoints and high visibility enforcement, aim to drastically reduce the number of drunk-driving crashes, injuries, and fatalities this year.

“We ask all Tennesseans to please drive safely this holiday season,” said THSO Director Buddy Lewis. “Our state and local law enforcement partners will be out in full force to secure Tennessee roadways. We want everyone to make it home safely, so please designate a sober driver.”

The consequences of a single DUI conviction for a first-time offender in the state of Tennessee may include costly fines, court costs, legal fees, jail time, mandatory drug and alcohol treatment, and/or the installation of an ignition interlock device in his/her vehicle.

The THSO provides grant funding to support the Chattanooga Police Department’s increased enforcement efforts during the Booze It and Lose It holiday campaign. For more information about the THSO, please visit www.tntrafficsafety.org.

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